"Grandma." I breathe. She doesn't have to say anything, she pulls me into a hug. We stay like that, for some time until she pulls away. Taking my hand in hers, we walk into the house. Up the stairs and into the bedroom she shared with grandpa.
We sit on the bed, she lets go of my hand and picks up a picture we took during Hazel and Collin's wedding. Grandpa had his left hand on my shoulder as I held Alessia. His right hand on grandma's shoulders, she held Amara in her arms. We were all smiling.
"I can't believe he's gone. The police asked me to go to the station to identify his body. I wanted to wait for you, I don't think I can do it on my own." She says and I nod.
" I already miss him, grandma," I say letting out a shaky breath. I had cried a lot even on the plane, I didn't think I had any tears left.
"How about we go down to the station?" She says and I nod. Taking Leo, Liam, and Rody with us. The driver, Ken pulls up at the station. The lady at the front desk, instructs us as to where we should go. One of the officers leads us to a more quiet room, he points to the body on the steel table. Grandma walks over there, lifting the white sheet.
I hear her gasp, tears running down her face. Looking at Grandpa, I can't stop the tears that fall. His once handsome face filled with life is now pale with deep cuts and a gunshot wound on the forehead. My legs give up, I end up collapsing on the floor., my eyes never leaving grandpa's body.
"Who did this?" Grandma asks looking at the officer that stands silently on the door.
" We don't know yet. I'm guessing someone was after him. Someone who had a grudge to do this. " He says.
" When you find out who did this, please make sure the criminal rots in jail. Whoever they are. My husband didn't deserve to be killed like this. No one deserves this. " She says wiping her face.
" I promise you, ma'am, we'll find the people behind this." The officer says helping me up and handing us his card as we exit the station.
We walk to the parking lot, I could feel the hairs on my back stand up. Looking around I see a black car with black tinted windows speeding towards us.
I feel my body being pulled backward, as I watch the car speed away leaving blue smoke behind.
"Fuck!" Rody says as he watches the car speed away.
"Are you okay Ma'am, Kay?" Liam asks and I nod. Looking at my grandma's stunning face. She nods slowly and I breathe a sigh of relief.
"How did they know we were here? I don't remember telling anyone where we are going. " I say and everyone's eyes light up.
" They must have followed us," Liam says and we all nod.
" Someone is after your family Ma'am. And by the looks of things, they are not going to stop." Leo says.
We file a report, the police getting the number plate of the car but being a dead end. I exchange looks with Leo and Liam noticing how the station is adamant about not working on the case. I feel my phone vibrating in my purse, checking the caller ID I see it's Adam. Picking up my heart starts to beat even faster.
"Kaylee, the mansion is compromised. Men came in, started to shoot everywhere. I managed to get the twins and Mary out of there. We are on our way to you. See you in a few hours. " Adam informs. And my heart stops beating, I could hear Adam calling my name but it was so faint.
" Kaylee are you okay?" Liam asks and I shake my head no. I don't know what happens next, but I see black dots before everything turns black.
I wake up, my eyes scan the place, and see I'm definitely in the hospital. With the constant beeping of the machine and a hospital gown on my body. The door opens and in steps my grandma with a nurse. Her eyes red and puffy making my heartbreak a million times.
My life was fine. Now? It's fucking chaotic. I have nothing in control. My grandpa that I met months ago is dead now. My kids that I thought were safe back in the mansion are now in danger. My grandma is stressed which is not healthy at all.
I'm bad news. Trouble finds me everywhere I go.
"Yes...she can go home." I hear the nurse say to grandma who only nods walking over to me.
"I'm sorry grandma. Everything is just my fault." I say looking into her brown eyes.
" Nonsense. You have nothing to do with this. Your daughters are in danger, Kaylee I don't blame you for my husband's death. It was his time, and I'm sure he's watching over the kids right now. How about we get out of here?" Grandma says.
" Thank you, Grandma. Let me get dressed." I say changing back into my jeans, red blouse, and boots. We get to the mansion in no time.
Being informed that Adam and the others are an hour away from the city. I let out a sigh of relief. Knowing that Adam and Ross are with my kids I am assured that they will be safe and well. Ross sent the security footage of the CCTV cameras he set up. In the footage before the mansion is ambushed I see Dawn in the security room, she disables the alarms and CCTV cameras that were in the system. I see Hildah walking into the room, they talk as Dawn hands her a gun they talk some more then leave the room. Things happen so quickly, I see Mary carrying the twins and using the old passageway in the library meeting up with Ross and Adam. Getting into a black van they exit the mansion. Seeing the men with black masks on their faces talking with Dawn and Hildah they seem to be arguing before one of the men pulls Dawn into him, by the angle of the camera I couldn't see what the guy looked like.
"I'll fucking kill that bitch." I say calmly, meaning every word.
" I'll bring her to you. I have tracked the van they used and I found out that it is parked near an abandoned house. I think they are still there." Liam says and I nod. He makes a call to his men and assures me they are mostly trained for cases like these.
What got me thinking is why would Dawn side with the kidnappers. Grandpa was the one who hired her and I'm sure he did a proper background check on her. Sitting in one of the chairs, I pull up her file and everything seems fine, nothing is out of place. It's almost perfect until I spot the address she put up.
"Liam, what's the location of the van?" I ask.
"Old Victoria road, 25-0764," Liam replies.
" Well, Dawn's place is around there. The abandoned house is just a cover-up. Tell your men to use the dirt road, I'm sure there's a house there. " I say and Liam nods, tapping into his computer and talking on the phone at the same time.
"You are right Kaylee, There's a two-story house around that area. My men are on it." Liam says and I nod.
I feel my phone vibrating, seeing it's Collin, I pick up immediately.
"Hello." He greets through the phone.
"Hello, Kay. I heard about your grandpa. My condolences." He says.
" Thanks, Collin," I say.
" How are you holding up? " He says concerned.
" I'm fine Collin." I lie.
"It's okay to not be fine. Just know that I'm here if you need anything. " He says and I mutter a thank you before hanging up.
By now everyone has found out that my grandfather is gone. Messages of condolences flood my phone as well as calls.
*****
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